Yes I have the Buick back again, went over and brought it back last week one day after work. Judy took me over and followed me back, the car ran fine, but it overheated on the way back. I've known for some time it would need a new radiator, so that was ordered and arrived today.
I managed to snap off a bolt removing the thermostat housing, so that needs to be fixed, plus there are some mounting problems with the new radiator, nothing so bad it can't be overcome, but it will prove to be just a bit difficult.
Was hoping to have it ready to drive to work on Monday, but that doesn't look to be feasible at this point. I just take it one day at time time and get a bit done as I feel the inspiration.
Also I posted a new video of happenings from my front porch yesterday morning, you can view it here http://bit.ly/plDpQx if you have some time to kill...
Friday, July 15, 2011
Sunday, July 3, 2011
Should have been!
Unreal, the Buick is purring like a kitten, as quiet as a mouse and all of the brakes have been fixed and even the charging system is now working, but I can't drive it! No friends, it seems when moving the car from the garage to the parking lot, in it's pristine and quiet condition, a new noise was heard, one which begged to be investigated.
Yep, another problem has been discovered, and this one is not going to be an easy fix. It seems the drive shaft carrier bearing has come loose from it's mounting which means either a new one will be required or the old one will have to be fixed. Nope, not available from any of the normal parts outlets (NAPA, AutoZone, etc.), and even the places which specialize in hard to find parts for old cars don't have it.
So far only one possibility has popped up and that is having the old one renewed at a place called Steele Rubber products, located near Charlotte, NC. At this point I'm not sure whether I can just buy a new one from them or have to send the old one in, but if I do, it's a minimum of a 3 week turnaround to have it fixed. I hope to find out more when they reopen on Tuesday morning.
I was so looking forward to driving this thing back to Vevay on Friday, but it just wasn't to be. Hopefully soon...
I found the parts I needed at oldbuickparts.com and they have been ordered. S'pose to be here in 2-5 days so maybe I will get to drive my car next weekend!
Yep, another problem has been discovered, and this one is not going to be an easy fix. It seems the drive shaft carrier bearing has come loose from it's mounting which means either a new one will be required or the old one will have to be fixed. Nope, not available from any of the normal parts outlets (NAPA, AutoZone, etc.), and even the places which specialize in hard to find parts for old cars don't have it.
So far only one possibility has popped up and that is having the old one renewed at a place called Steele Rubber products, located near Charlotte, NC. At this point I'm not sure whether I can just buy a new one from them or have to send the old one in, but if I do, it's a minimum of a 3 week turnaround to have it fixed. I hope to find out more when they reopen on Tuesday morning.
I was so looking forward to driving this thing back to Vevay on Friday, but it just wasn't to be. Hopefully soon...
UPDATE-UPDATE-UPDATE-UPDATE-UPDATE-UPDATE-UPDATE-UPDATE-UPDATE
Wednesday, June 29, 2011
Almost there!
The Buick now has a brand new exhaust system and it is very quiet. After bleeding the brakes, 3 of the 4 wheel cylinders were found to be inoperative, so replacements were ordered. Two have arrived and been installed, just waiting on the 3rd, hopefully tomorrow.
A person is also supposed to look at the charging system tomorrow and hopefully a cheap fix can be found for that, at least just enough to allow driving this weekend. I left my dwell meter at the shop and that should be set, along with the timing tomorrow as well.
I also snagged a rebuilt carb on Ebay last night and that should be here on Friday. Hopefully I will have it back in Vevay for the long weekend so I can do some other work to it and drive it around town a bit as well. Very cool...
A person is also supposed to look at the charging system tomorrow and hopefully a cheap fix can be found for that, at least just enough to allow driving this weekend. I left my dwell meter at the shop and that should be set, along with the timing tomorrow as well.
I also snagged a rebuilt carb on Ebay last night and that should be here on Friday. Hopefully I will have it back in Vevay for the long weekend so I can do some other work to it and drive it around town a bit as well. Very cool...
Sunday, June 12, 2011
I need a coffee can
You could look virtually anywhere and find one of these laying around in the recent past, but now they are not to be found at all. I need one to make my exhaust quiet enough to drive the Buick to Carrollton to have the new exhaust put on.
I tried on Saturday to break loose the nuts which secure the Y pipe the exhaust header, but it's gonna take more than what I have to do this job. I even used the new 1/2" drive breaker bar I bought, but they would not budge.
While I was under there I found that if I had a small coffee can, I could cut out both ends and then cut the side so that I could form the can around the old Y pipe where it connects to the exhaust pipe. Then use a couple of large radiator clamps and that should make it quiet enough for the trip.
Probably would not last for much longer than the 30 minute drive over the river, but that is all I need to get the car over there. While they are at it, might as well see if they can determine what's wrong the charging system and bleed the brakes, etc.
I have an alternator and brackets to change it over, but I figure if it's just a matter of replacing the voltage regulator I might give the old generator a try first. This car only has 60,000 miles on it, so I would think the generator should still be good.
Heck, while they have the car up on the lift, might as well do the oil change and lube it as well. Stuff like this is just much easier with the car raised on a lift instead of me rolling around in my yard trying to do it. I really need a garage.
I tried on Saturday to break loose the nuts which secure the Y pipe the exhaust header, but it's gonna take more than what I have to do this job. I even used the new 1/2" drive breaker bar I bought, but they would not budge.
While I was under there I found that if I had a small coffee can, I could cut out both ends and then cut the side so that I could form the can around the old Y pipe where it connects to the exhaust pipe. Then use a couple of large radiator clamps and that should make it quiet enough for the trip.
Probably would not last for much longer than the 30 minute drive over the river, but that is all I need to get the car over there. While they are at it, might as well see if they can determine what's wrong the charging system and bleed the brakes, etc.
I have an alternator and brackets to change it over, but I figure if it's just a matter of replacing the voltage regulator I might give the old generator a try first. This car only has 60,000 miles on it, so I would think the generator should still be good.
Heck, while they have the car up on the lift, might as well do the oil change and lube it as well. Stuff like this is just much easier with the car raised on a lift instead of me rolling around in my yard trying to do it. I really need a garage.
Thursday, June 9, 2011
The Heat is Back!
What happened to the good ol' summertime, when it was nice and warm in June, hotter in July, and mostly unbearable in August. Somehow that has gotten mixed up as here it is the first part of June and we are sweltering from the heat already! I suppose weather patterns do change, but I'm not sure I like how this one is going.
At least a semi-pleasant weekend is forecast, whether it comes true remains to be seen. Sunday looks to be the best of the two days, but I plan to get outside on Saturday and do the exhaust work on my Buick come hell or high water! This is getting ridiculous.
Another flat tire on my lawn mower, is there now a set time that lawn tractor tires are good for? First the front one went flat and now one of the back ones has a hole in it also. The front one was not repairable so I just purchased a replacement at Lowes. Got a new tire and wheel for about the same price as I could have bought a replacement tire.
Ivy has once again taken over my house and mailbox and most everything else around here. It's even growing inside the house where the window a/c unit is in my bedroom. That has to go, it's creepy. I can see the headlines now, Man strangled in his sleep by killer ivy, film at eleven.
Finally got my second video camera up and running so I hope to post some 2 camera videos soon on YouTube. Maybe if I'm really energetic I will do one of the exhaust work. Don't count on it, I'll be lucky to actually do the work, much less video it.
At least a semi-pleasant weekend is forecast, whether it comes true remains to be seen. Sunday looks to be the best of the two days, but I plan to get outside on Saturday and do the exhaust work on my Buick come hell or high water! This is getting ridiculous.
Another flat tire on my lawn mower, is there now a set time that lawn tractor tires are good for? First the front one went flat and now one of the back ones has a hole in it also. The front one was not repairable so I just purchased a replacement at Lowes. Got a new tire and wheel for about the same price as I could have bought a replacement tire.
Ivy has once again taken over my house and mailbox and most everything else around here. It's even growing inside the house where the window a/c unit is in my bedroom. That has to go, it's creepy. I can see the headlines now, Man strangled in his sleep by killer ivy, film at eleven.
Finally got my second video camera up and running so I hope to post some 2 camera videos soon on YouTube. Maybe if I'm really energetic I will do one of the exhaust work. Don't count on it, I'll be lucky to actually do the work, much less video it.
Saturday, June 4, 2011
A great day!
Spent the better part of today with my wayward family up from Arkansas. Seems the only time I get to see them is during special family events, which is my oldest granddaughter's (Jordan) graduation tomorrow. I understand my son has to provide for his family the best way he knows how, but I sure wish it involved something closer to home.
It was hot as hell out there today, but I didn't mind a bit getting to spend it with them. I miss and love you guys a lot and will sure be glad when the day comes for you to return to this area. Until that time I guess I will just be grateful for those few minutes we get to be together.
It was hot as hell out there today, but I didn't mind a bit getting to spend it with them. I miss and love you guys a lot and will sure be glad when the day comes for you to return to this area. Until that time I guess I will just be grateful for those few minutes we get to be together.
Friday, May 20, 2011
Busy day
Took off work today in hopes my exhaust would be here, but it didn't show up. Decided not to waste the day off and set out to do what I had planned to do last weekend, which is rearrange my desk in preparation for 3 additional monitors.
I did get a lot accomplished towards that goal, I currently am looking at all 6 monitors hooked up to my MSI P55-GD80 system, all functioning properly. Unfortunately, my camera is buried in a pile of stuff on my bed so no pics just yet.
Probably better that way so everything will be finished when I get around to doing a quick show and tell video. At least the hard work is done, getting all of the monitors mounted and arranged properly and also getting my system setup so that moving the mouse around gives the desired effect.
More on this later when I hopefully get this project finished...
EDIT: I posted a short video on YouTube showing what they look like if anyone is interested:
http://bit.ly/mwFsn6
Best viewed in 720hd
I did get a lot accomplished towards that goal, I currently am looking at all 6 monitors hooked up to my MSI P55-GD80 system, all functioning properly. Unfortunately, my camera is buried in a pile of stuff on my bed so no pics just yet.
Probably better that way so everything will be finished when I get around to doing a quick show and tell video. At least the hard work is done, getting all of the monitors mounted and arranged properly and also getting my system setup so that moving the mouse around gives the desired effect.
More on this later when I hopefully get this project finished...
EDIT: I posted a short video on YouTube showing what they look like if anyone is interested:
http://bit.ly/mwFsn6
Best viewed in 720hd
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